In Conversation with: LadySonP

It was pleasure to catch up with Lady Son P,  a French garffiti artists haiiling from Montpellier. She has been writing for the past five years after  being inspired by  her brother and his crew. What captivated me to her work was those bright candy colours that goes pop and her signature lips. Her playful interpretation of female sexulity is a breath of fresh air to the male (graffiti) imagination and she uses these representations to empower her characters and more importantly herself.

J*9:  Of all the different forms of art, why did you choose graffiti?

SONPY: When I returned to France to live there, I was fascinated by all the colours on the walls of the city.  My older brother and his friends has been practicing graffiti for many years and I wanted to be like them, I said that one day I too will do that!

J*9:   What was it like when you did your first piece of art?

SONPY: Ohhhhhh it was super ugly! It was not as easy as I thought.

J*9:   How long have you been ‘writing?’

SONPY: Basically it has been 5 years since I put my first small Sonpinette on a wall. I `m really putting it too three years ago, since I’ve been in a fierce and determined mode.  Now it is like a drug!  If I do not do at least one painting a week I feel bad! My evolution and my style are progressing smoothly.

J*9:  How has your style changed over the years

SONPY: When you are operating alone it is difficult to have a critical eye on your stuff. You start by making simple pieces with large flat areas and features that resemble anything but a fine line. Then after you play with colours, shadows, location and you work your style to each piece in reality. Looking at other people paint you get to understand many things!  I’ve been lucky to paint with my friend Honk of CKT crew, MCZ Vizion from Paris, mister Choq a pro of characters and Sake 132. I still trying to evolve in this environment, but I ‘m not yet satisfied with the result!

J*9:  What types of characters do you like drawing?

SONPY: Sexy girls, hip hop and funnily enough I like to draw animals. But most of the time they are female characters that you find on the walls, I am tempted sometimes by a small SONPY lettering, but it `s really not my speciality.

J*9:   A lot of male writers draw sexy women, how is your different?

SONPY*:  The difference with my lil chica’s is that they do not come from a male fantasy or an ideal that I would want in my bed! It has just always been easier for me to represent more rounded forms of femininity because may be I am one!

J*9:  Have you collaborated with other graffiti artists?

SONPY: I had the chance to start the graffiti with Honk, Sake, Vizion, and Choq. I’ve made some connections from time to time with friends Beller from LSK and SF crew Kasdie, Pearl, the FM who were at school with me in. But most of the time I paint alone. I am a solo girl; I don `t belongs to any crew. If I did I think that it would have to be all female and consists of girls as crazy as me! Girl power!

J*9: LOL.  Do you have any favourite artists on the scene?

SONPY: Yes I love Mode2 art! Lazoo Mac, the 132 crew. I really like Chicanos style and mister Cartoon in LA.

J*9:  What has been your favourite piece?

SONPY: of my graffiti?

J*9:  Yea.

SONPY:  Aww I don’t really have favourite but I do like the piece I made for my dead grandmother.

J*9:  Ahh.

SONPY: The rip with the angel, cross and roses

J*9:  My last question, what are your plans for the future?

SONPY: My plans are able to do what I like as long as possible and who knows may be painting on the walls when I’m 85 years old and in my wheelchair.

Facebook: LadySonP